About Us

History

The Tri-County Antique Club was chartered in Jersey County on February 1, 1976. The club was started by an enthusiastic group of people from the Tri-County area, which includes Jersey, Greene & Calhoun counties, in order to provide the Jerseyville BiCentennial celebration with the very first steam-gas-threshing show to be held in Jersey County. From there the club went on to promote the appreciation of the area's agricultural heritage, through the restoration and preservation of antique, vintage & classic automobiles, gasoline & oil engines, gas and steam tractors, farm machinery and all other equipment of historical value and making these available for public viewing.

The club is now over 200 members strong, with over 100 families involved. There are people in the club from all walks of life and who are most certainly committed to preserving the area's agricultural heritage. The club's past President, Arlin Parsell, who as a young man of 21 years of age, organized the first meeting.

Many tractors and pieces of machinery have been donated to the club, most of it coming from individuals in Jersey County. The most prized possession is a 1920 Titan tractor donated by the late Charles Calhoun, who was a Charter Member of the club. The Titan is the forerunner of the International Harvester line of tractors. Many other donated items of vintage farm machinery are also on display at the club grounds.

The Tri-County Antique Club is an IRC 501-© (3) charity. Contributions to the Club are deductible from taxable income as provided by the Internal Revenue Code. The club engages only in charitable and educational activities and hopes to work with both public and private organizations and individuals to build the protection of historic equipment in planning for the future. The club wants to preserve the past for future generations, not only in Jersey County, but also include the surrounding counties of Greene and Calhoun and the adjoining counties of Macoupin and Madison. The club wishes to identify, retain, preserve and promote the local rural history, utilizing marketing techniques such as newsletters, workshops, festivals, open houses, meetings and forums to educate the public about "how Grandma and Grandpa used to do it". To this end the club has established an Agricultural Enrichment Program which provides field trips for school children and has shown over 7000 kids "how Grandma and Grandpa used to do it".

Mission Statement

The Tri-County Antique Club was formed to promote the appreciation of agricultural history, through the restoration and preservation of antique, vintage and classic automobiles, gasoline and oil engines, gas and steam tractors, farm machinery and other equipment of historical value, and making some of these available for public viewing.

We wish to preserve our past for future generations, not only in Jersey County, but also to include the surrounding counties of Greene and Calhoun, also the adjoining counties of Macoupin and Madison. We wish to identify, retain, preserve and promote our local rural history and we will utilize marketing techniques such as newspapers, workshops, festivals, open houses, meetings and forums, etc. to educate the public about "how Grandma and Grandpa used to do it."

Tri-County Antique Club will hold fund raisings, charge admissions, sell memberships, accept donations, etc. to raise monies to fund our operation. We will also procure grants and loans for our programs, for this purpose of preservation and education. Tri-County Antique Club will only engage in charitable and educational activities.

Tri-County Antique Club hopes to work in committees, with both public and private organizations and individuals, and use the skills of a wide range of professionals, community leaders and volunteers, to build the protection of historic equipment in planning our future. We welcome everyone with these same interests to become members of our Club. Without your support, we will lose even more of our agricultural heritage and our children will never know "how Grandma and Grandpa used to do it". Memberships are $10.00 per individual and $15.00 per family.

Note: RFD-TV has a similar mission to Tri-County Antique Club, oriented toward rural America and agriculture. www.rfdtv.com